Valve assembly for aerosol containers



June 23, 1964 w. J. RAEHS 3,138,304

VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed. June 12, 1962 125 128 124FIG.2 129 WILHELM JOSEF RAEHS INVENTOR.

BY (Jud 12 AG E NT United States Patent 3 3,138,304 VALVE ASSEMBLY FORAEROSOL CONTAINERS Wilhelm Josef Raehs, Mausbach, Germany, assignor toFirrna Uniplast Dr. Raehs KG., Burgholz, Germany, a corporation ofGermany Filed June 12, 1962, Ser. No. 202,648 15 Claims. (Cl. 222-394)My present invention relates to a valve assembly for the controlleddischarge of fluids, such as aerosols, stored under pressure in acontainer.

An objectof this invention is to provide means for effectively utilizinga maximum of the available fluid pressure within the container fornormally maintaining the valve closed while enabling it to be opened bysimple pushbutton action, thus insuring effective closure even withvalves of small dimensions and dispensing with the need for larger, moreexpensive seals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve assembly of thistype which can be made for the most part or in its entirety of plasticmaterials which readily lend themselves to mass-production techniquesand which are not subject to harmful corrosive action.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide means forholding such valve assembly tightly against the rim of a containeropening into which the assembly may thus be fitted as a lid therefor.

A feature of my invention resides in the provision, within an at leastpartly displaceable (e.g. deformable) valve cap having an outlet for thefluid to be discharged, of a relatively rigid support forming apreferably frustoconical seating surface ahead of a tubular boss ofgreatly reduced diameter which extends toward the outlet. A flexiblediagram, constituting a displaceable valve body, is normally urged underthe internal container pressure against this seating surface from whichit may be lifted by pressure upon a portion of the valve cap juxtaposedwith a tapering extension of that diaphragm projecting from the tubularboss. The space then created between the diaphragm and its seatcommunicates with the interior of the container through one or moreapertures in the midportion of the diaphragm whence, e.g. in the case ofan aerosol container, a tube of relatively reduced diameter may leadtoward the bottom of the container. This tube could be integral with thediaphragm which in turn may also be secured to the valve cap. Moreover,a stored force such as that of an auxiliary spring may be used tosupplement the internal fluid pressure in keeping the valve closed.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of a lid forthe container which forms an extension of the diaphragm support and hasa re-entrant portion provided with an annular groove to receive aresilient sealing ring. This ring serves to urge the periphery of thelid into firm contact with the surrounding container mouth and may' Theabove and, other objects, features and advantages of my invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description,reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an aerosolcontainer equipped with a valve assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of a modified valve assemblyaccording to the invention.

In FIG. 1 I have shown a container whose open top is bounded by anannular bead 11, the mouth opening defined by this bead being occupiedby a lid generally desig nated 12. Member 12 has a peripheral lip 13embracing the bead 11 with rounded ledges 13 and 13", a re-entrant3,138,304 Patented June 23, 1964 "ice portion 14 forming an annulargroove 15, and a central part including an upwardly convergingfrustoconical valve seat 16 merging with a tubular boss 17. The lid 12may consist of a relatively rigid material, e.g. a metal such asgalvanized iron or a hard plastic such as a polyamide.

The central part 16, 17 of lid 12 forms a support for a more highlyflexible diaphragm 18 which is urged against the underside of valve seat16 by the internal pressure of container 10 (arrows A) and has asubstantially frustoconical extension 19 fitting inside boss 17, theelements 18 and 19 being part of a valve body generally designated 20.This body may be injection-molded, for example, from high-pressure orlow-pressure polyethylene. One or more orifices 21 in the midportion ofdiaphragm 18 communicate with the interior of a dependent central nipple22 which receives a syphon tube 23 bonded or otherwise secured thereto.Valve seat 16 is shown provided with several annular ridges 16 designedto prevent any leakage of fiuid between members 12 and 20 when thefreely displaceable body 20 is in its illustrated position of closure.In this position the tip of extension 19 lies just below the top of adeformable valve cap 24 which may be made of the same resilient materialas valve body 20 or of some similar substance. Cap 24 is formed with acentral chamber 25, receiving the upper end of extension 19, and with apassage 26 constituting a lateral outlet for the discharge of fluidreaching the chamber 25 upon dislodgment of the valve body 20 from itsseat by finger pressure (arrow B) upon the top of cap 24.

A resilient sealing ring 27, preferably of synthetic elastomericmaterial, is imbedded in the groove 15 and has annular ridges 2'7 firmlygripping the edge of cap 24 to clamp it in place. Ring 27 also bearsoutwardly upon the inner periphery of lid 13 to insure a tight jointbetween the latter and the bead 11 of container 10. Downward pressureexerted upon the valve cap 24 will communicate itself to the ring 27 andwill further enhance its retaining action. It will be apparent that thepresence of this ring enables the lid 12 or at least its lip 13 to bemade from a somewhat flexible (e.g. elastomeric) material withoutimpairment of the seal around the container mouth.

In FIG. 2, in which elements corresponding to those of FIG. 1 have beengiven similar reference numerals augmented by a l in the position of thehundreds digit, the lid 112 is substantially identical with lid 12 ofthe-pre ceding embodiment except for the omission of ridges 16' wherebyits frustoconical seat portion engages with'its full under-side theadjoining surface of valve'body 120. Ring 1.27 is here shown.to lack theridges 27 'of ring 27 and to be overlain by the valve cap 124 which inturn is positively connected with the body by suitable fastening meanshere shown as a screw 128. The chamber is thus given an annular formwhich is favorable for the creation of vortices whereby the atomizationof the aerosol spray is enhanced. Moreover, the syphon tube 123 is shownin FIG. 2 as an integral appendage of valve body 120. Finally, a spring129 has been interposed between the central portion of lid 112 and thesurrounding cap 124' to increase the contact pressure between the valvebody 120 and its seat when the container is not in use.

It will be apparent that the cap 124 of FIG. 2 could also be rigid (e.g.metallic) since in that case the finger pressure applied during openingof the valve will'be ab-:

sorbed by the resilient sealing ring 127. The restoring force exertedupon the valve body 120 by the cap 124, by virtue of its own elasticityand/or that of ring 127, will further improve the contact pressure ofthe valve even if spring 129 is omitted.

Modifications of the specific structures described and illustrated,including combinations of compatible features from the two embodimentsparticularly disclosed,

CD are of course possible and should be considered as coming within thespirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve assembly for the controlled discharge of a fluid underpressure from a storage container therefor, comprising a support with atubular boss and a surrounding generally frustoconical seating surfaceconverging to ward said boss, a valve body displaceable relatively tosaid support, said valve body including a generally frustoconicaldiaphragm adjacent said seating surface and a tapering extension of saiddiaphragm projecting through said boss, said diaphragm being exposed tothe fluid in said container for being normally pressed thereby againstsaid seating surface, and a valve cap with a displaceable portionoverlying said extension, said cap being provided with an outlet, saiddiaphragm having an apertured midportion opening into said boss uponinward displacement of said extension through the intermediary of saiddisplaceable portion whereby fluid from said container may pass fromsaid boss toward said outlet.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said seating surface isprovided with annular ribs extending toward said diaphragm.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a centraltube secured to said valve body opposite said extension and openingtoward said midportion.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein said tube is integralwith said valve body.

5. In combination, a container for a fluid under pressure, saidcontainer having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a supportrigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubularboss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding seatingsurface, a valve body displaceable relatively to said support, saidvalve body including a diaphragm adjacent said seating surface and atapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardly through saidboss, means including the pressure of fluid in said container normallyurging said diaphragm against said seating surface, a valve cap with adisplaceable portion overlying said extension, said cap being providedwith an outlet, said diaphragm having an apertured midportion openinginto said boss upon inward displacement of said extension through theintermediary of said displaceable portion whereby fluid from saidcontainer may pass from said boss toward said outlet, said lid having are-entrant portion with an annular groove surrounding said centralportion, and an elastic sealing ring in said groove urging a peripheralpart of said lid into contact with the rim of said opening.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said cap extends intosaid groove and contacts said ring.

I 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said cap has an edgeclamped in said groove between said central portion and said ring.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said ring has annularridges bearing upon said cap.

9. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said cap is positivelyconnected with said extension.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said cap is formed withan annular vortex chamber communicating with said outlet and surroundingsaid extension.

11. The combination according to claim 5, further comprising springmeans on said support bearing upon said valve body for helping maintainsaid diaphragm in contact with said seating surface.

12. The combination according to claim 5, further comprising a syphontube depending from said valve body toward the bottom of said container,said tube opening toward said midportion.

13. In combination, a container for a fluid under pressure, saidcontainer having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a supportrigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubularboss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding generallyfrustoconical seating surface converging outwardly toward said boss, avalve body displaceable relatively to said support, said valve bodyincluding a generally frustoconical diaphragm adjacent said seatingsurface and a tapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardlythrough said boss, means including the pressure of fluid in saidcontainer normally urging said diaphragm against said seating surface,and a valve cap with a displaceable portion overlying said extension,said cap being provided with an outlet, said diaphragm having anapertured midportion opening into said boss upon inward displacement ofsaid extension through the intermediary of said displaceable portionwhereby fluid from said container may pass from said boss toward saidoutlet.

14. In combination, a container for a fluid under pressure, saidcontainer having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a supportrigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubularboss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding seatingsurface, a valve body displaceable relatively to said support, saidvalve body including a diaphragm adjacent said seating surface and atapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardly through saidboss, means including the pressure of fluid in said container normallyurging said diaphragm against said seating surface, and a resilientlydeformable valve cap with a yieldable portion overlying said extension,said cap bearing upon said support and being provided with an outlet,said diaphragm having an apertured midportion opening into said bossupon inward displacement of said extension through the intermediary ofsaid yieldable portion whereby fluid from said container may pass fromsaid boss toward said outlet, said lid having a re-entrant portion withan annular groove surrounding said central portion, and an elasticsealing ring in said groove urging a peripheral part of said lid intocontact with the rim of said opening.

15. In combination, a container for a fluid under pres sure, saidcontainer having an opening, a lid seated in said opening, a supportrigid with said lid having a central portion provided with a tubularboss directed outwardly from said container and a surrounding generallyfrustoconical seating surface converging outwardly toward said boss, avalve body displaceable relatively to said support, said valve bodyincluding a generally frustoconical diaphragm adjacent said seatingsurface and a tapering extension of said diaphragm projecting outwardlythrough said boss, means including the pressure of fluid in saidcontainer normally urging said diaphragm against said seating surface,and a resiliently deformable valve cap with a yieldable portionoverlying said extension, said cap bearing upon said support and beingprovided with an outlet, said diaphragm having an apertured midportionopening into said boss upon inward displacement of said extensionthrough the intermediary of said yieldable portion whereby fluid fromsaid container may pass from said boss toward said outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,775,483 Treharne et a1 Dec. 25, 1956 2,883,089 Kiraly Apr. 21, 19592,951,645 Price et a1 Sept. 6, 1960 2,963,265 Goodspeed Dec. 6, 1960

1. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE CONTROLLED DISCHARGE OF A FLUID UNDERPRESSURE FROM A STORAGE CONTAINER THEREFOR, COMPRISING A SUPPORT WITH ATUBULAR BOSS AND A SURROUNDING GENERALLY FRUSTOCONICAL SEATING SURFACECONVERGING TOWARD SAID BOSS, A VALVE BODY DISPLACEABLE RELATIVELY TOSAID SUPPORT, SAID VALVE BODY INCLUDING A GENERALLY FRUSTOCONICALDIAPHRAGM ADJACENT SAID SEATING SURFACE AND A TAPERING EXTENSION OF SAIDDIAPHRAGM PROJECTING THROUGH SAID BOSS, SAID DIAPHRAGM BEING EXPOSED TOTHE FLUID IN SAID CONTAINER FOR BEING NORMALLY PRESSED THEREBY AGAINSTSAID SEATING SURFACE, AND A VALVE CAP WITH A DISPLACEABLE PORTIONOVERLYING SAID EXTENSION, SAID CAP BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET, SAIDDIAPHRAGM HAVING AN APERTURED MIDPORTION OPENING INTO SAID BOSS UPONINWARD DISPLACEMENT OF SAID EXTENSION THROUGH THE INTERMEDIARY OF SAIDDISPLACEABLE PORTION WHEREBY FLUID FROM SAID CONTAINER MAY PASS FROMSAID BOSS TOWARD SAID OUTLET.